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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Open Heavens Devotional for Wednesday September 17, 2014: THE TESTIMONIAL CODE

TOPIC: THE TESTIMONIAL CODE

Memorise: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Read: Matthew 5:13-1613 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.MessageA testimonial is an official report about the abilities, qualities and character of somebody. It is often written by a former employer or the head of an academic institution where the person has studied. Sometimes, a person is given an opportunity not because of his credentials or qualifications, but based on his testimonial. This is also applicable to us as Christians. We also have a testimonial by which we are judged. A testimonial could be written in a coded language that only an intending employer can decode. What may seem harmless to you in your testimonial may signal danger to another person reading it. Sometime ago, I came across my own testimonial at Ilesha Grammar School while searching for some documents. What my principal wrote about my character seemed like he was prophesying because he described me as “cool, calm and collected”. I am not quite sure I had those qualities back then. The qualities Jesus outlined for us in today’s Bible reading constitute the code of our testimonial.

The Lord’s first testimony about you is that you are a child of God. Galatians 3:26 says:“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” What is said about you is your recommendation to the world. When our brethren applied for jobs in those days and the employers were considering giving them sensitive positions, they would come to the late founder of the church (The Redeemed Christian Church of God) to get his recommendation about the applicant. Our father-in-the-Lord usually described the applicant as a Christian or as a child of God. If you have sincerely given your life to Jesus, the voice of your testimonial is that you are a child of God. The testimonial of a child of God has special significance. We are called kings and priests in Revelation 1:6. A child of God is a chosen one. He or she is a saint, a holy person and a peculiar person, and is therefore uniquely different. The child of God is the salt of the earth, the arrester of decay and preserver of what is good.

As salt, you are to be the end of corruption wherever you are. Jesus expects us to prove Him right by living according to His description of us. All the descriptions and titles he bestowed on us are guaranteed by Him. Writing a testimonial is a risk because people base their judgment on what they know about the writer of the testimonial. Jesus demands that we prove Him right. We should not embarrass Him or put Him to shame by living contrary to His testimonial about us. We should earn our testimonial by a life conformed to His specifications.

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Akinrinwa Akinbowale is a blogger, infopreneur, blog/web designer, researcher and an online tutor. He lives in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria with his family. You can reach him on akinsquared2000@yahoo.com or call +2348035661205.